Deer

 In the past there was a natural balance in nature. Humans have always competed with other animals and mother nature to survive. But in today's world it is getting harder and harder to survive without depending on grocery stores and restaurants  to get our food. The world, or human world, is now money based, not nature based. Meaning, money will get you everything you need to survive.  Your 'e life will be spent making money, and not say raising or growing the actual food we need to survive.  

Sorry if that was a little depressing. Just seeing my peppers cut way back each night by hungry deer made me think of this. There are too many deer. "There are too many humans" you may say. This is true. I thought of this and you would be correct. However, I am talking about competing for food like in the old days. Survival of the fittest and so on. And deer are only trying to live and survive like any of us. I do not fault them. But right now, in my case, they are winning. The deer. But I have a plan.

 I have tried  everything in the past. Deer crows, that sense a deer and shoot water on them, Theoretically scaring them away from your garden. It works once or twice, then they just sit there and eat and get a nice shower. Deer crows are good for one thing though, besides taking your money. They scare people good and are good for a laugh if they get someone in the face with some water! Now that was fun! 

But seriously, what to do about deer? A dog? I got a dog, not for that reason, but he did scare them at first. A 110 pound German Sheppard. But the deer quickly learned if they kept 20 feet between them and him, they could easily out run him if needed. My dog finally gave up and just let them eat. He was smart.

 If I named all the ways I have heard, from human hair to Coyote  urine, I would be here all day. Trust me, none of it works. Nothing works short of a tall heavy duty steel fence. And it has to be strong. A deer is as strong or stronger than a human. So if you can break it, pull it over, knock it down, a determined deer can. So next year I am building my fence.

This was a bad year here as far as gardening went. If you do not have deer, count yourself lucky. And you can still see them all over, all over here in fact. My neighbor likes watching them eat my tomatoes, and does nothing. Thanks! He is a great neighbor but you think he could yell or something. It wouldn't  help anyway. 

So this time next year I hope to report a large and successful harvest that was not munched back each night by hungry deer. I do have small areas fenced, but I have a large area so building this fence will be expensive.  It has to be strong as mentioned, and tall, and be able to withstand the force of a large hungry deer, and will be an eye sore, but worth it I guess.  What we need are some hungry Mountain Lions. Or as Becky said, salt peter in apples for the deer. Maybe that is the answer. They are after all just big rabbits, and we all know what rabbits do. 

  If you have any ways that have worked short of me building this expensive fence, please let me know in comments. Maybe there is something I never thought of or heard. After all gardening is supposed to save you money and relieve stress, not make you broke and defeated, like I feel right now. Thanks.